How Sonny Bill Williams has inspired a change in the Sydney Roosters culture
FASTIDIOUS, meticulous, some would even go as far as stark raving mad, what makes Sonny Bill Williams the best footballer of his generation is a one word mantra used by elite athletes all over the world: sacrifice.
Think green tea, sashimi, brown rice, Bikram yoga, daily prayers, visualisation, a home gym and a strict no-alcohol policy - small samples of why SBW ranks alongside Brad Fittler as the Roosters most astute piece of recruitment in the club?s history.
Forget the rock star exterior of the flat caps and designer shades. When Williams arrived at the tri-colours' Moore Park headquarters last January armed with an A4 notebook and a pen, the entire organisation was taken aback by his level of professionalism.
MONDAY NIGHT'S HEAVYWEIGHT STOUSH
Sacrifice can come in many forms. NRL footballers like to break it down in to what they call "one percenters", which essentially means a resolute focus on doing all the little things right, with no room for short cuts or distractions.
Take this example: not one member of the Sydney Roosters roster has touched a drop of alcohol for over a month. Call it a coincidence, but the Roosters are on an eight-match winning roll.
"We didn?t want to make a fuss of it, we actually just wanted to keep it in-house. It was something we decided on as a group about a month ago,?? Roosters coach Trent Robinson said.
"Alcohol has long been a part of sporting clubs and at the Roosters there?s times when it?s been good and times when it?s been not so good.
"It was Jared Waerea-Hargreaves who came up with the idea of everybody just making a small sacrifice in that area. It certainly wasn?t Sonny?s idea or something he was pushing but at the same time the lifestyle choices he makes are clearly having a positive effect in that regard.??
SBW STRIKES HARDER ON THE FOOTY FIELD
In years gone by, booze bans at the Sydney Roosters were inevitably a kiss of death for the NRL?s most high-powered club.
The last time the club was supposedly going dry, Todd Carney and Nate Myles were both sacked and Frank-Paul Nuuausala was stood down after being photographed coming out of the Courthouse Hotel two years ago.
Not anymore. Again, call it a coincidence, but instead of getting snapped outside nightclubs, Roosters halfback Mitchell Pearce has been spotted doing regular hot yoga sessions, along with teammates Waerea-Hargreaves and Shaun Kenny-Dowall.
The reason? SBW. An athlete who makes it cool not to get on the booze, instead advocating drinking green tea as an alternative to coffee and doing extras inside the fully-equipped gym inside his home.
"Sonny?s not someone who goes around pulling people aside and wanting to have a word to them. In his time away from the game he clearly discovered exactly what works for him as an athlete and he simply endorses that with his actions,?? Robinson said.
"He?s a leader in actions, not words. I also must emphasise, Sonny?s not the sole reason for the Roosters having a degree of success this season.
"There?s a whole range of reasons. Everybody at our club has bought into what we?re about and what we?re trying to achieve. We worked hard on that for three months prior to Sonny even arriving at the club.
"But the way he showed up early before he had even officially signed with the club, that?s another example of how his actions speak volumes.??
Andrew Johns drove the Newcastle Knights to two premierships by demanding nothing short of excellence from everyone around him and handing out a word-perfect gobful to anyone who failed to come up to the desired level of standard.
Given the Roosters are currently sitting on the precipice of collecting the club?s first JJ Giltinan Shield as minor premiers since 2004 - after finishing 11th in 2011 and 13th in 2012 - the influence of Williams is unquestionable.
"To be perfectly frank, he?s had an even bigger influence on the club than what I expected,?? Roosters chairman Nick Politis said.
"Not only by lifting the standards across the board due to his level of professionalism, but as a person he?s just a great example of how to live your life.
"Sonny genuinely cares about people and ultimately he cares about the team and the club. That?s a unique characteristic and one I haven?t come across too often in rugby league.
"The other thing I really like is, there?s just no bullshit in him.??
One characteristic SBW does call on, at times, is the "cold stare".
Said to be the equivalent of a Johns? spray, if teammates aren?t focusing as hard as they should be in the gym or at training, the dual international will produce it.
Roosters chief operating officer of football Brian Canavan rates the influence of SBW alongside that of club legend Fittler, who guided the Roosters to premiership-glory in 2002 and made sure the tri-colours never missed a finals series on his watch.
"Before Sonny arrived the group was bitterly disappointed and embarrassed about their performances of the past two years,?? Canavan said.
"So they had already made a number of commitments to each other over a full three months of preseason.
"Then when Sonny did come into the club, he just lifted the standards expected across the board to another level entirely.
"In the latter part of Brad Fittler?s career he was the ultimate professional. That?s why he was able to play at such a high level until the age of 34.
"Sonny coming to the Roosters has had a similar influence. They are once in a generation players.??
The only question remaining now is, will Williams stay at Moore Park next season or return to the Waikato Chiefs and the All Blacks in rival code rugby union.
When he initially returned, The Sunday Telegraph understands there was an unwritten agreement for Williams to play a second season at the tri-colours.
But after such a hugely successful return, there?s now every chance he could decide to return to New Zealand rugby.
Perhaps his greatest legacy at the Roosters will be forged over the next two months.
If the tri-colours can win the grand final, stop the debate.
Williams is the greatest footballer currently playing in either code.
